Gender effects in auditory brainstem responses to air- and bone-conducted clicks in neonates

Examinations of gender differences iri auditory brainstem response (ABR) wa ve V latencies and thresholds to air- and bone-conducted clicks were undert aken with neonates. Two hundred and two full-term neonates participated (i. e., 103 males and 99 females). Wave V latency measures for air- and bone-co nducted click stimuli of 30, 45, and 60 dB nHL and 15 and 30 dB nHL, respec tively, and thresholds to air- and bone-conducted clicks were determined. F emale newborns displayed statistically significant shorter wave V latencies than male newborns for air-conducted click stimuli (i.e., approximately 0. 2-0.3 ms; P=.0016). There were no significant gender differences in wave V latencies to bone-conducted click stimuli (P=.11). With respect to ABR thre sholds, no statistically significant differences were observed for either a ir-conducted clicks (P=.054) or bone-conducted clicks (P=.18), Educational objectives: As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to ( 1) describe gender differences in ABR wave V latencies and thresholds to ai r- and bone-conducted clicks with neonates and (2) summarize possible expla nations for observed gender differences in ABR wave V latencies and thresho lds to air- and bone-conducted clicks with neonates, (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.